How long did it take for forum members to call Tenerife home?

warmwind · 4th October 2007, 18:30

Just wanted to ask the question How long did it take for forum members to feel Tenerife is home.

I have lived here only for 6 weeks, I feel quite happy here 95% most of the time, and we are buying a house soon, but am having a bit of a UK homesick moment today. I think its down to not speaking spanish, but I am trying to learn. Feel a bit of an idiot in shops sometimes, mimeing and desperately flicking through a spanish dictionary.
I know, should of learnt spanish before I came here.

Janet · 4th October 2007, 18:40

I knew when I was ill that here was home ... it was the first time it really hit me that I didn't want to be anywhere else, and that was two years after moving here. I think I felt at home here much before that, but just hadn't realized it.

None the less, I know the all at sea feeling, and the longing for a straightforward conversation without having to get all flustered, and for simply doing the shopping without thinking about it ... and without a dictionary! It's rather like a cold, coming over you in waves from time to time, and each time it's easier, because each time you know a bit more about the place and its systems, the language, the food, the weather ...

If you ever feel really homesick, I recommend a trip down to the airport, it's only on your doorstep! Just go and hang around the departures queues and listen to the people, their discussions, their unhappiness at returning to the UK, and if you get to talk to them, their jealousy too of you who can now call Tenerife home!

When you buy your new house, you'll have a blank canvas, and can design and make it whatever type of home you want ... and then there's Basil too ...

oh, and Silicon Beach as well

Have a look HERE and HERE and HERE too ... you're not alone in feeling like this

warmwind · 4th October 2007, 18:57

Thanks Janet,

Like your suggestion about hanging around the airport, listening to people moaning about having to return to the UK.

Paulrock · 4th October 2007, 18:59

We were told by a friend of ours "when you first move here,do nothing but party
and get it out of you system".
So for 3 months we did that

Had a great time, partying, meeting people
looking around the island having a couple of drinks here and there

well ok
then! a good few drinks

Then after that we just settled down and now this his our home!

Daverock · 4th October 2007, 19:01

I guess that I must have been lucky or really ready to move here. I have never been homesick. As of last week we have been here two years and only been back to the UK once during that time. We will be going again in March but only because it's my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Tenerife is my home and has been since shortly after arriving.

I've seen people go back to the UK 4 or 5 times in their first year here and I often wonder if they will settle long term.

Edit - Posting at the same time ^^^

Jenniewhitewave · 4th October 2007, 19:05

Lovely post Janet!!

I have been loitering at the airport recently as hubby is to-ing and fro-ing for work...plenty of glum faces, I can tell you!

And as for our lovely "Rocks" posting at the same time... bless

Silicon Beach · 4th October 2007, 19:07

it seems that men are less liable to get homesick

I feel really at home and happy here

but I agree with WarmWind about not speaking the language ... it was always on our list of things to do, but we ended up moving here so quickly that it got pushed down the list. Now our prioritise will be involved in sorting out a property purchase ...

once that's all sorted - it's Spanish classes etc - definitely ...

(well, at least when it's not windy anyway

)

fun2bdeb · 4th October 2007, 19:48

Like many of us, I have no choice but to go to the airport quite frequently and I have to agree there is no better place to make you realise there is no way I want to get on one of those planes.

To start with I used to make it quite obvious I was only there to see hubby off or pick him up. I could feel peoples thoughts saying "lucky sod, she lives here" and they re so right.

Also the other morning I was listening to the radio in the car when I heard "what a beautiful morning it is here in Tenerife, unlike the rainy, windy conditions people are waking up to in the UK" That put a smile on my face for the rest of the day

irishmusico · 4th October 2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulrock

We were told by a friend of ours "when you first move here,do nothing but party
and get it out of you system".
So for 3 months we did that:

Still doing it 7 years later

When my fiancée and myself first came here we found it hard to settle.After 3 years on a trip back to Dublin We realised we couldn't wait to get back.
We are heading back to Ireland in a few weeks for a few days to remind ourselves again why we are here.Not that we need it though.

warmwind · 4th October 2007, 20:18

there is of course one advantage in not being able to speak Spanish -

and that's when you get a cold calling marketing call -

it's actually quite funny to get one here and not understand a word of what he's saying